Southbridge officials spar over finance manager's resignation

Wednesday

Jan 16, 2013 at 6:00 AMJan 16, 2013 at 2:35 PM

By Brian Lee TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The School Department's financial manager tendered his resignation in the middle of the budget season because School Committee member Mary Ellen Prencipe “blasted” him for patronizing fellow member Scott S. Lazo's pub, Mr. Lazo alleged.

Ms. Prencipe allegedly “accosted” Director of Finance and Operations Terry L. Wiggin, asking what was he doing in the pub, Mr. Lazo said.

Mr. Lazo said Mr. Wiggin told him about the conversation, but Mr. Wiggin declined to comment to a reporter. Mr. Wiggin's final day will be Feb. 26.

Mr. Lazo said he came forward with the allegation because he thought it was unprofessional to treat an administrator in that manner, and letting the finance leader walk at this time of year put the district in harm's way.

On Jan. 3, Mr. Wiggin sent Ms. Woodruff a letter indicating he wanted to rescind his resignation, a request the chairwoman said she denied.

Ms. Woodruff said she went with Mr. Wiggin's original decision because it was clear to her that after he had several days to think about it, he was clearly “not happy with his job, or people he's working for, or vice versa.”

She went on to say she had “never heard of anyone rescinding a resignation.”

Asked if she would find it problematic for an administrator to visit Lazo's Café on Mill Street, Ms. Woodruff said, “My personal opinion is business is separate from pleasure.

“I suppose if someone wanted to go there and have a drink or two, they could,” she continued.

“But if they're going to go there, have a drink or two and converse about School Committee actions and things that are going on, then that's wrong. That should be kept out of the conversation.”

Mr. Lazo said Mr. Wiggin visited his pub during the Christmas break.

“It was just a holiday thing,” the committeeman said.

Mr. Lazo said they talked about family, Mr. Wiggin's recent move into town and the holidays.

“We never talked about School Committee business,” Mr. Lazo said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lazo said, he would push for reconsideration “to give Terry a shot to come back and see if it's palatable to the rest of the committee.”

But Mr. Lazo said he realizes it will be an uphill battle.

Mr. Wiggin, who has been with the district since 2011, said that Mr. Lazo's push was “nice to hear,” but he continued to decline to comment about why he abruptly resigned without having another job lined up.

“I would really prefer that I not be a part of a political debate,” he said.